updated 05:50 pm EST, Wed December 23, 2009

Apple may have Yerba Buena rented out

Apple's January event is slated for the 26th of that month, an alleged leak maintains today. The firm is believed to have rented out the Yerba Buena Center in San Francisco to unveil a "major" product on January 26th. It would also have access to the small theater for "several days," most likely for Steve Jobs or other Apple executives to conduct final rehearsals in advance of the actual presentation.

Traditionally, Apple has used the Yerba Buena Center for media-oriented rollouts such as iPod and iTunes updates.

What would be introduced isn't directly provided by the source for the Financial Times, but it comes after a flurry of rumors in the past day of Apple unveiling its tablet the same month. One of these expressed a strong level of confidence that it will actually involve a 7-inch screen rather than the 10-inch model supposed by many.

It's increasingly suspected that the tablet's larger screen area will be used not just for upsized iPhone apps but as a key delivery vehicle for Apple's media strategy, such as possible iTunes TV subscriptions or tablet-oriented versions of books and magazines.

Outstanding Gamesmanship

CES and their also run participants will be drown out over the next two weeks. Talk about going into the wind. Control product announcements, control pressattention and control stock option performance. What is there to do better?

I'm starting to get goosebumps...

not really. I've been around for too many of these Apple product buildups and personally don't care for them. Too much reading too do, trying to sort out the fact from fiction. Usually it's about 99% fiction and 1% fact. I prefer to keep my expectations low knowing that the news media's and investor's expectations will be through the roof. I'm sure it will be a well-designed device, but I'll have to wait to see what it offers before calling it a game-changer. I just know that I want one as long as it's at least the equivalent of an oversized iPod Touch.

What I want to see...

- It will have a virtual keyboard but can also optionally connect to the wireless Apple keyboard.

- Will be able to run apps from the App store made specifically for the tablet... but will ALSO allow users to run their ordinary iphone apps too.

- iTunes will include a Book Store alongside the App Store etc. VERY IMPORTANT: Like podcasts and apps, ANYONE can submit an ebook or magazine to the store. Real publishers will pick up on popular titles on iTunes and people can make the jump from iTunes popularity to having a real publisher.

- It simply has to be wireless, for use in the home and at public wireless hotspots. It should also have 3G functionality which is paid for monthly, but this should be an optional package. So users can opt to purchase the wi-fi enabled, non-3G version.

- Some native apps from Apple that make use of the Tablets features and size. A much better native system for taking notes (either as sketches or text).

keyboard

I can't imagine a pure tablet. It has to have a keyboard and something that allows it to stand up on its own. I actually imagine the possibility of some sort of holographic keyboard or a keyboard that projects to a surface where your fingers can type on--if if you can't see the keys.

Tablets rumor is a ruse . . .

Rarely to these rumors play out like you think. This will be just a hardware rev and new a carrier for the iPhone like T-MOBILE. Which is a good thing. Apple is just making use of the "rumor mill' by placing a few well placed 'leaks'.